Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-09-30
THE STATE ASSOCIATION.
BISHOP" OBERLY DECLINES TO AO-
DRESS ONE OF THEM,

But Substitutes Instead Little Advice Ac-
companied by Blast at the Republicans
The Associations Declared Unlawful
Tennessee Doubtful on the Prohibition
Questionable and Henry George.
WASHINGTON CITY Sept SO-Civil Serv-
ice Commissioner Oberly has declined an in
vitation of the Illinois Democratic asSocia
ton to address that body, on the ground that
it would be an improperly on his part, as he
is entrusted with the administration of non
partisan law, to participate in a partisan
demonstration. Mr.. Oberly says this rule holds
good also as to civil service examiners; that
they have no right to take any part in part-
san meetings Speaking of the Illinois Dem
ocratic association, he said it was an organ
ization of officeholders, and that it can not,
in his opinion, exist without its members vio-
lating several of the penal codes of the civil
service law. He maintains that the law for
bids such organizations
MIR Oberly in his letter of declination
quotes several sections OF the civil service act
Bearing on the question, and in conclusion
says:
at should not be forgotten that the provis-
while the Republicans were in power, aud
when by perverting instrumentaties the Re-
pubicanS We're using the public service for
partisan purposes. Filling the civil service
with men and women for partisan reasons
only, that party then robbed them by assess
ments and by solicitations accompanied by
open or limited threats of dismissal and for
the purpose of making its frequent attempts
at this kind Of robbery effective it organized
the Republican State associations, and used
them in taking from the purses of its vie
inns money that was needed in the support of
their dependents 1t should not be forgot
ten by Democrats that the penal sections of
the civil service act were aimed at this sys-
tenn of robbery by assessments and solicita-
ton, and at all the Observation-Disclosures by
which that system was made effective Dem
ocrats applauded the enactment of those pro-
visions, and congratulated themselves upon
the probability that they would destroy the
nalign influences of the Republican state as
sociations located at Washington, and give to
the Democratic party fair chance in fair
fight for the presidency.
And the Democrats were not mistaken.
The penal clauses of the civil service act did
break the power of the partisan collector
who robbed the clerks of the department by
using the Republican state associations as his
weapons OF assault and as his burglar tools
Over this result Democrats every where re-
jolced, and in 1884, as n consequence Of the
enactment of the civil service act they had a
fair fight with their opponents and won a
famous victory.
And now, may I not be excused for say
ing that Democrats should not initiate the
worst practices of the worst Republicans, by
organizing the officers clerks, and other EN-
ployeS OF the departments at Wsshiuton, INTO
state associations, the purposes Of which are
partisan, and all the money collected or OK
pended by which is money collected and ex-
pended, given and handed over. received and
applied, the law expresses,
Tor partisan purposes, and for the
promotion of political objects, all
1T which practices the civil service
law denounces as unlawful and punishable
by fine and Imprisonment when the parties
to the practices persons ia tue service of
the United Statesf / believe the Democrats
should practice while in power what they
preached while out power, and that they
should not follow the evil example set them
10y the party they have succeeded in the adj
unistratIon of the affairs OF the republic